This just in from the Press Department at IDOT:
Those who travel on I-270 headed to St. Louis will have to deal with some daytime road closures where 270 spans the Mississippi River. There will be inspectors out on the Interstate, checking the bridge - and therefore unusual traffic patterns through Aug. 6th.
Here's the Deal:
Aug. 3-4 Westbound outside lane closed, 9a-7p
Aug. 5-6 Eastbound outside lane closed, 7a-3p
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Here's some welcome news for we drivers who are planning to hit the road for this upcoming holiday weekend. IDOT will try to suspend as many construction-related lane closures they can starting at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 2 to midnight, Sunday, July 5.
Normally, I try to avoid holiday weekend road-trips... but this 4th of July is the exception... and I will be headed to Wisconsin (the good thing is I will be a passenger, as my commute during the week leads me to give up the wheel whenver possible).
Of course, some construction projects will still have lane closures in place, even if nobody is out there working... and of course, the speed limits for these zones still applies (often 45mph!) -- you do not want to start or end the holiday with a $375 fine.
The other issue for the weekend is safety -- i.e. the crackdown on any drunk drivers. IDOT says it is working with the Illinois State Police on this -- ISP says it will be targeting impaired drivers -- that's all they are revealing about their plans.
For a complete list of the road closures that might affect your route this upcoming weekend... click here.
As is customary at the advent of the 'traditional summer holiday road-tripping season'... IDOT is doing its part by easing off major road projects for Memorial Day. Starting on Friday at 3 p.m., through Monday at Midnight, there won't be any major slow downs on the Edens, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Stevenson, Tri-State Tollway, Jane Addams Tollway, Veterans Memorial Tollway, Reagan Tollway, I-80, or I-57.
However, that doesn't mean all work will halt. IDOT says it's going to continue with many ongoing projects that don't have huge traffic impacts... and it reminds us that construction zone speeding restrictions are in effect, even when there are no workers there. That's a $375 ticket.
Oh, and another note on tickets.... 300 law enforcement agencies are teaming up around the state to look for people not wearing their seatbelts at night this weekend- a part of the ubiquitous 'Click it or Ticket' public service campaign. (OK, we know the state didn't go over its public affairs budget here... note the sketchy video production quality of the ads running on TV right now.... Ever hear of hiring some of the pros like the peeps here at Oakbrook Productions? I'm just sayin'....)
